Eli5:What’s the difference between biodegradable plastic and normal plastic ?

Question

Eli5:What’s the difference between biodegradable plastic and normal plastic ?

In: Chemistry

Answer 1

Biodegradable means it will break down into organic matter, or decompose (like foods or bodies). Normal plastic only photodegrades, meaning it breaks down into tiny pieces eventually, but it will always be there as plastic, and never really “go away”.